Ø      Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS):

The Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) is the Governor appointed lead state agency responsible for implementing the Early Intervention System (EIS) in New Jersey.  The day-to-day activities are administered by the Early Intervention System within the Division of Family Health Services. State staff includes a Part C Coordinator, Procedural Safeguards Coordinator, Quality Assurance Coordinator, Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) Coordinator, Autism Project Specialist, and contract and program managers.

        http://www.state.nj.us/health/index.shtml

Ø      State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC):

The State Interagency Coordinating Council (SICC) is the state level advisory body for the Early Intervention System in New Jersey. Members of the SICC are appointed by the Governor to advise and assist the Department of Health and Senior Services, as lead state agency, in the development and implementation of the New Jersey Early Intervention System.

 At least twenty percent (20%) of the members of the SICC must be parents, including minority parents, of infants or toddlers with disabilities or children who are less than twelve years of age with disabilities and who have knowledge of, or experience with, programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. At least one member of the SICC must be a parent of an infant or toddler with a disability or a child with a disability who is six years of age or younger.

http://www.state.nj.us/health/fhs/eis/sicc.shtml

PARENT ADVOCATES NEEDED!

 If you are the parent of a child with special needs aged 12 or younger who received services through the New Jersey Early Intervention System (NJEIS)and are interested in advocating for all children in Early Intervention the New Jersey State Interagency Coordinating Council would like to hear from you.

 The SICC is a Governor Appointed council that consists of members from a variety of State agencies, Early Intervention Service Providers, the Legislature and, most importantly, Parents of children with special needs who have utilized NJEIS.

 The insight and valuable experience that parents offer the SICC make it one of the most extraordinary councils in New Jersey.  With a small group of diverse individuals advising and assisting the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) on the policies and implementation of the NJEIS, your voice can make a difference.

 The following is a sample of the SICC mission: 

• Advocacy for all families and children in the NJEIS
• Advising the DHSS on the policies of the NJEIS and their implementation
• Promoting communication between all facets of the NJEIS
• Strategizing change to improve experiences in the NJEIS for all children and their families

 The following is a list of your role and responsibilities as a Parent Member: 

• Attendance at six meetings each calendar year
• Assignment to one of the four SICC Advisement Committees
• Attendance at Advisement Committee meetings (often immediately prior to regular SICC meetings)
• Participation and action on any item as requested by the SICC Chair
• Voting privileges on advisements made to the DHSS or other matters pertinent to the council

 Each parent member will receive a $150.00 stipend reimbursable for SICC public meetings as well as Advisement Committee meetings attended.  Being a parent representative to the SICC can take your experience, insight and ideas and put them to work for the betterment of the thousands of infants and toddlers who will benefit from early intervention, now and in the future.  

If you or someone you know would like to be considered for a parent representative seat on the SICC, please submit a letter of interest and your resume directly to the Governor’s Appointment’s office or to SICC Chair, Katherine Doyle at njsiccchair@aol.com .  You may call the NJSICC at (877) 909-SICC (7422) or visit the websites for more information.  www.njeis.org or www.nj.gov/health/fhs.eis/index.shtml.

 Thank you for interest in serving the children and families of New Jersey!

Mission Statement:

  "To enhance the capacity of the family to meet the developmental and health related needs of their child"

                                         Copyright 2009